Puppetry in Dementia Care
Sometimes those most in need can slip through the cracks of our fast-paced society.
Thankfully, some caring individuals out there are still there to offer a helping hand. One such inspiration is Karrie Marshall, who founded Creativity in Care™ (www.creativityincare.org), a community interest company which uses puppetry and arts to give a voice to those who may not be heard otherwise. Dementia sufferers, people with experiences of mental health and family carers are just some of the people who this wonderful programme can make a real difference to.
Inspired to improve quality of life, inclusion and joy in care, as well as community settings, Karrie hopes the risk of isolation and frustration is reduced through creative expression, with or without spoken word. “My work is about making connections,” explains Karrie. “The diagnosis, disease or disability plays a part in how those connections are made, but care is always about the person, the relationship and the connection.”
Karrie has been working with puppetry in dementia care for ten years and arts in mental health for even longer. She delivers the fantastic workshops alongside Chris King, who with a background in performance and arts in-in-education specialises in puppetry. With support from Scotland Unltd and Firstport grants for social entrepreneurs 'Creativity in Care' was founded in 2012. Through the two day courses and sessions offered the people involved feel more relaxed and connected with each other, rather than feeling the strains of anxiety, depression and isolated feelings. For many the opportunity to express oneself through creativity is a relief due to the constant demands and frustrations that many disabilities and diseases can bring about.
The partakers such as people living with a diagnosis and their carers become co-creators and performers together, and the programme enables all to work towards a shared goal, such as a booklet or performance. The appeal of puppetry is the innocence it inspired in us all as children, and the return of that joyful innocence is sure to be effective in the role of expressive arts and creativity. “Meaningful connection is possible through creativity, even whilst so many people feel dementia is 'the end',” Karrie promises. And what does she feel is behind the success of the project? “Working from the heart - plus perseverance, creative energy and a belief in achieving.”
Their plans for the future are to increase their reach into community and care settings, in ways that empower people to continue the work themselves, through learning programmes, toolkits and service contracts. “Care homes have huge potential to be part of the community and to become homes where people truly find themselves in the best possible way!” says Karrie. With people living longer and dementia steadily on the increase it feels imperative that we take a step back to ensure that the people living in care and living with dementia get the best possible chance at a happy, healthy and good quality of life.
